A Forever Family (Forever #6) Read Online Free Page A

you fired Cara?”
    “Yeah.” My nerves got the best of me as I prepared for his next words and took a seat at my desk.
    “I think we need to talk, son.”
    “Sorry, Dad, but I have a meeting to go to in a few minutes.” I picked up the files from my desk and got up from my chair.
    He stood in the doorway with his hand on the knob and stared at me. “Fine. We’ll talk later. I’m sorry, Collin.” His voice was sincere.
    “Yeah, well, I don’t want to discuss it now.” I walked past him and down the hall, heading to Julia’s office.
    ****
    Julia
    As I was sitting at my desk sipping on a cup of coffee, Collin walked in and sat down in the chair across from me.
    “Good morning. How are you?” I asked with sympathy.
    “I’m fine.”
    “And Amelia?”
    “She’s fine too, but I can tell she’s just as hurt by Mom and Dad’s reaction last night.”
    The sadness in his eyes was overwhelming and I hated seeing my brother like this. “Just to let you know that after you left last night, I told Mom and Dad off.”
    “You did?”
    “Yep. I sure did, but you knew they were going to react like that.”
    He shifted in his chair. “I know, but I had a tiny piece of hope that they would welcome our marriage with open arms without calling me stupid.”
    “They didn’t mean it, Collin. They’re upset. Hopefully, they calmed down and had a chance to think about it last night.”
    “After I fired Cara, Dad came to my office and said we needed to talk.”
    “What did he say?”
    “I didn’t give him the chance. I told him I had a meeting to go to and I left the office.”
    I got up from my desk and walked over to him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. “You’re going to have to face him at some point. Your office is right next to his.” I smiled. “I have to get these designs down to the print department. Wanna come?”
    He gave me a small smile. “No. I better get back to my office. Thanks, Julia, for sticking up for me and Amelia.”
    After dropping off the designs to the print department, I stopped by my dad’s office. When I opened the door, I saw him sitting, facing out the window. He turned around.
    “Good morning, princess. Are you here to yell at me some more?”
    “No, Daddy.” I walked over and kissed his cheek. “I wanted to know how you and Mom are doing.”
    He threw the pen down on his desk and shook his head. “We had a long talk last night. Your mom is still really upset, but she’ll be okay.”
    “And you?” I asked as I poured myself a cup of coffee and took a seat.
    “I understand to some extent and I don’t blame him. I just wish he would have waited.”
    “We can wish till the cows come home, but it won’t change anything.”
    “Till the cows come home, Julia?” He chuckled.
    I shrugged.
    “We’ll make this right, princess. Don’t worry. Are you still bringing Brayden over for the night?”
    “Yes, Daddy. You and Mom can have your grandson all to yourselves tonight.” I got up from my chair. “By the way, Collin told me he fired Cara. What are you going to do for a secretary? Are you calling the temp agency?”
    He sighed. “No. I’m stealing Collin’s secretary for the time being.”
    “Maybe Mom can come fill in for a while.”
    “That’s not a good idea. I wouldn’t get any work done if she was here. She’d spend more time in my office and on my desk than at her desk.” He winked.
    “Ugh. Why do you say those things? If you need me, I’ll be in my office wiping what you just said from my mind.”
    “Bye, princess. Have a good day.” He laughed.
    I secretly smiled because I loved the way my parents still felt about each other after all these years and I hoped that Jake and I would be the same way.

Chapter 6
    Connor
    As I sat at my desk, I couldn’t take the silence between me and my son anymore. I walked to the closet, grabbed my gym bag, and went to Collin’s office.
    “Grab your gym bag and let’s go. We’re hitting the gym.”
    He looked up at me